WO2005032670A1

WO2005032670A1 - Exercise system of golf putting and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2005032670A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Ho Kim
Original assignee: Kyung-Ho Kim
Priority date: 2003-10-08
Filing date: 2004-09-23
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: KR20030094138A; KR100418389B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercise system of golf putting and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an exercise system of golf putting and a control method thereof, capable of freely selecting and forming geographical features of a golf course’s green so that a putting game or a putting exercise may be performed as if it were performed on a real golf course’s green. The present invention includes: a computer having a program for receiving information regarding a golf course’s green to set geographical features data that corresponds to a height value of each coordinate divided with a predetermined interval, a processor, and an output unit for outputting the information regarding the green and the geographical features data; a geographical features control box for outputting a control signal for controlling each coordinate depending on the geographical data outputted through the computer; and a putting green of a predetermined area, whose height on each coordinate is controlled by a lift means according to a control signal from the geographical features control box.

Description

using an upper frame slope control means, a mat slope control means, and a plate slope control means. However, the above-described golf putting exercise apparatus has the following disadvantages, in which: a simple control means for up and down curves is merely provided to the golf green and it is difficult to provide the same geographical features as the real golf course, which is practically not helpful to golf exercisers. Further, since the golf putting exercise apparatus of the related art do not provide proper conditions under which the golfers can actually play a putting game or a putting exercise on a golf course' s green that is world-renowned and having a high difficulty level, a demand of many golfers intending to play a putting game and a putting exercise on the green is increasing.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is designed to resolve the above- mentioned drawbacks and satisfy the demand of many golfers. An object of the present invention is to provide an exercise system of golf putting and a control method thereof, capable of making practically possible a putting game and a putting exercise by receiving data regarding geographical features of various golf courses' greens to analyze characteristics of the geographical features in a three- dimensional manner and automatically forming geographical features most similar to the inputted geographical features of the green. To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, there is provided ^• an exercise system of golf putting, which includes: a computer having a program for receiving information regarding a golf course's green to set geographical features data that corresponds to a height value of each coordinate divided with a predetermined interval, a processor, and an output unit for outputting the information regarding the green and the geographical features data; a geographical features control box for outputting a control signal for controlling each coordinate depending on the geographical data outputted through ^• the computer; and a putting green of a predetermined area, whose height on each coordinate is controlled, by a lift means according to a control signal from the geographical features control box, the putting green including: a green where artificial turfs are settled down on an upper surface of a rubber member having a predetermined width; plate cells connected each other, formed adjacent to a backside of the green, and having rotational grooves projected on both sides of a plate having a predetermined area; a shock absorber inserted for being ratable, into the rotational grooves of the plate cell and varied in its length by a pressure in an axial direction; clevis hinge-connected with one end of a rotational shaft by a fixing pin; a ball joint whose four sides are fixed by the clevis; a plurality of lift means fixed to one lower end of the ball joint, for raising/lowering the ball joint; a sensor provided to the ball joint and the lift means, for sensing a height of the ball joint and outputting the height to the geographical features control box; a frame on which the plurality of lift means are settled down; and a tensile spring for connecting and fixing the frame to the green to prevent the green settled down on an upper surface of the plate cell from moving. According to the exercise system of golf putting of the present invention, the lift means is either a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. According to the exercise system of golf putting of the present invention, the lift means includes: a screw rotated by motor driving; and a ball joint nut-joined with the screw, for being moved. The exercise system of golf . putting of the present invention further includes a card checking device connected with the computer, for reading member's information. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of an exercise system of golf putting, which includes: a computer having a program for setting geographical features data regarding a golf course's green, a processor, and an output unit for outputting information regarding the green and the geographical features data; a geographical features control box for outputting a control signal for controlling each coordinate depending on the geographical features data outputted through the computer; and a putting green of a predetermined area, whose height on each coordinate is controlled by a lift means according to a control signal from the geographical features control box, the method includes the steps of: receiving green data regarding geographical features of a golf course's green; computing and storing a height on each coordinate divided into a predetermined interval in advance according to the computer program using the inputted data; if information of a member who has registered in advance is inputted by a card checking device connected with the computer, authenticating the membership of the member; if the authentication of the membership of the member is completed, outputting an image of the stored green through the computer; if the member selects the outputted green, outputting green control data regarding the relevant green to the geographical features control box; operating the lift means of each coordinate of the putting green using the geographical features control box according to the green control data; and if the member inputs a use termination signal through the computer, adjusting a predetermined amount for use hours. According to a control method of an exercise system of golf putting of the present invention, the green data inputted to the computer is either image data of the green or geographical features data in which a height of each coordinate of the putting green is set in advance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic, constructional view of an exercise system of golf putting according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control method of an exercise system of golf putting according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a coordinate diagram of geographical features of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a geographical features set of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a lift means of a geographical features set- of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 is an^' enlarged view explaining a part A' of FIG. 6.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION . Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of an exercise system of a golf putting and a control method thereof according to the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings . FIG. 1 is a schematic, constructional view of an exercise system of golf putting according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG.l, an exercise system of a golf putting according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a green set which can be controlled three-dimensionally; a geographical features control box 200 for controlling the green set; a computer for receiving a control signal and information regarding geographical features of a green from the geographical features control box 200 and analyzing the information; and a card checking device 400 for authenticating membership of a member who uses the green set as illustrated in FIG. 1. The computer 300 has input/output devices such as a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) , a floppy diskette, a hard disk drive (HDD) for receiving data from the outside. The received data may be a green' s image of a specific golf course or geographical features data of the green. In case of the green's image data, the system is programmed to divide the received image with a predetermined interval and to set the .divided coordinate. At this point, the program is a differential program or an integral program for computing a height of a specific coordinate. The program discriminates hue from saturation of an image, computes and sets heights on coordinates with respect to a specific reference level, respectively. However, the received data of the present invention may be geographical features data where heights for each coordinate are set in advance as well as the above- described image data. The card checking device 400 is a general credit card checking device or an exclusive membership card checking device. The card checking device may be a magnetic card checking device and may be a non-contact card checking device. A general on-line payment is possible through the computer 300 using the card checking device and information of the card can be changed. Since related arts associated with the above-described card checking device, the on-line payment, and reading of the card' s information are well known in the arts, detail descriptions thereof will be omitted. The geographical features control box 200 receives control data of a green provided from the computer 300 and outputs a signal for controlling the green set.

7 FIG. 3 is a coordinate diagram of geographical features of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a geographical features set of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a lift means of a geographical features set of a golf course's green according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view explaining a part ^λA' of FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, the green set includes: a green 10 where artificial turfs are settled down on an upper surface of a rubber member having a predetermined width (illustrated in a rectangular shape for convenience in explanation); and plate cells 20 for supporting the green 10. The plate cells 20 are configured in a cell structure in which the green 10 is divided into a plurality of cells with a predetermined area. Further, a rotational groove 21 projected in a horizontal direction and whose one end is bent is formed on both sides of the plate cell 20. In the meantime, a hole cup 11 which a golf ball rolls in and falls down is formed on one or more plate cells 20. In other words, a plurality of plate cells 20 in which the hole cup 11 is formed are formed and the rest hole cups except an actually necessary hole cup 11 are closed on the green 10, so that a position of the hole cup 11 may be changed and used depending on use circumstances. A shock absorber 30 whose length is varied depending on an axial pressure is inserted, for being rotatable, into the rotational groove 21 of the plate cell 20. The shock absorber 30 has, on its both ends, clevises 50 joined by a fixing pin 40 and hinge-connected. Further, the clevis 50 is screw-joined and fixed in its one end to one end of a ball joint 60 and the ball joint 60 fixes a lift means 70 and thus is raised/lowered. For the lift means 70, a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder may be used but a separate driving motor and a deceleration device may be provided so that a screw connected with the driving motor is rotated, a nut raised/ lowered by rotation of the screw is fit on the screw, the ball joint is fixed to the nut, and thus the ball joint is finally raised/lowered. In the meantime, a sensor 80 is provided to the ball joint 60 and the lift means 70 to sense a height of the ball joint 60. Here, the sensors 80 are provided to the ball joint 60, a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder, which is a lift means, and the driving motor, respectively, so as to sense a height of the ball joint 60. At this point, for the sensor 80, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor may be used. A signal sensed by the sensor 80 is transmitted to the geographical features control box 200 for controlling the hydraulic cylinder or the pneumatic cylinder, which is the lift means 70, the driving motor, and the computer 300. In the meantime, a green frame 100 of a quadrangular shape or a circular shape on which the plurality of lift means 70 are settled down is connected with the green 10 by the tensile spring 110 to prevent the green 10 settled down on upper surfaces of the plate cells 20 from moving on the plate cells 20 due to rising/falling movement of the ball joint 60 by the lift means 70. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control method of an exercise system of golf putting according to one embodiment of the present invention. Operation and effect of the above-described present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7. First, green data of a world-renowned golf course is inputted to the computer 300. At this point, the data may be image data or geographical features data in which heights for coordinates are set in advance (S10) . If the inputted data is image data, the image data is processed using an image analysis program prepared in the computer 300 (S15) . That is, heights on each coordinate divided with a predetermined interval with a middle height used for a reference are computed and stored with respect to the input image (S20) . It is desirable to establish and store a database using the computed data. The divided interval may be 30-50cm to properly support a load of a human body due to a golf posture. Further, for the program, a differential program or an integral program for differentiating each coordinate or integrating each division is used, or a program for computing a height according to hue or saturation of an image is appropriate. For the inputted image data, an aerophoto or an infrared photo may be used. The present invention, however, is not limited to the above-mentioned program and any program can be used as far as the program can compute a height of a coordinate. It is desirable that the green data inputted in this manner is inputted for all the holes of a specific golf

10 course. If inputting and processing of the green data are completed (S25) and member information is inputted through the card checking device 400 (S30) , the inputted member information is authenticated. A membership authentication process is performed through a general apparatus and method, Using on-line or off-line cash payment such as cash payment depending on a member's credit, cash payment depending on points or reserves of a member, a deferred payment depending on use hours. If the membership authentication is completed in this manner, the green of the inputted golf course is outputted through the computer 300 (S40) . The outputting of the green image may be performed in the following way. A user selects a nation first, and then selects a golf course and a hole of the nation. At this point, charging can be differently made depending on the selected nation or a difficulty level of a green and geographical features of a standard green can also be selected for a golfer who intends to exercise a putting. The selection of the green may be performed using a keyboard or a mouse connected with the computer 300 and may be inputted using a touch screen. If the selection of the green is completed (S45), green control data of the green selected by the computer 300 is outputted to the geographical features control box 200 (S50) . The geographical features control box 200 that has received the green control data outputs a lift control signal for operating the lift means 70 and the motor (S55) . In other words, the lift means are operated so as to control each height to be appropriate for a shape of the geographical features using a plurality of sensors provided

11 to the plurality of ball joints and lift means. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lift means has a virtual x and a virtual y axes which are reference coordinates and a height is set according to each coordinate. That is, settings like a(6.7), b(11.2), c(-6.2), d(-7.-9), e(7.-9), f(l.-7) are inputted, a green of a shape is formed as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the meantime, the information regarding the green used by a member is stored in a separately prepared member database so that a user can generate the geographical features again anytime when necessary to exercise a putting. Further, a difficulty level of a putting can be divided into a high level, a middle level, and a lower level depending on a curved shape of the geographical features upon putting exercise, so that a putting exercise can be made in an appropriate level and many people can also enjoy a putting game. Each ball joint is raised/lowered to a predetermined height by the plurality of lift means. At this point, the shock absorber hinge-joined to the clevis fixed to an outer side of the ball joint is rotated and raised/lowered in its one side by rising/falling of the ball joint. When one side of the shock absorber is raised/lowered, both sides of the shock absorber are not uniformly raised/lowered but non- uniformly raised/lowered, for the length of the shock absorber is varied due to the characteristics of the shock absorber, whereby rising/falling movement of the shock absorber can be smoothly performed. As the shock absorber is raised/lowered, the plate cell hinge-joined to the shock absorber is also raised/lowered and finally the green settled

12 down on an upper surfaces of the plate cells comes to have various slopes and curves. In case various slopes and curves are formed on the green by rising/falling of the plate cells, movement of the green is prevented by the tensile spring fixedly connected with the green frame. If the putting exercise is terminated and a user inputs a use termination signal to the computer 300 (S60) , an amount is adjusted depending on use hours and the system is ended.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, greens of various geographical features that are the same as the real green can be generated in a simple manner and used for a putting game or a putting exercise and time and costs consumed for moving in person to a real golf course can be remarkably reduced. Therefore, convenience and usability of golfers are increased. Particularly, it is possible to effectively make a putting game or a putting exercise in a simple manner, on the famous golf course and the green of a high difficulty level, anytime, anywhere, without limitations of time and space. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

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Claims

1. An exercise system of golf putting, comprising: a computer having a program for receiving information regarding a golf course' s green to set geographical features data that corresponds to a height value of each coordinate divided with a predetermined interval, a processor, and an output unit for outputting the information regarding the green and the geographical features data; a geographical features control box for outputting a control signal for controlling each coordinate depending on the geographical features data outputted through the computer; and a putting green of a predetermined area, whose height on each coordinate is controlled by a lift means according to the control signal from the geographical features control box, the putting green comprising: a green where artificial turfs are settled down on an upper surface of a rubber member having a predetermined width; plate cells connected each other, formed adjacent to a backside of the green, and having rotational grooves projected on both sides of a plate having a predetermined area; a shock absorber inserted for being ratable, into the rotational grooves of the plate cell and varied in its length by a pressure in an axial direction; clevis hinge-connected with one end of a rotational shaft by a fixing pin; a ball joint whose four sides are fixed by the clevis; a plurality of lift means fixed to one lower end of the ball joint, for raising/lowering the ball joint; a sensor provided to the ball joint and the lift means, for sensing a height of the ball joint and outputting the height to the geographical

14 features control box; a frame on which the plurality of lift means are settled down; and a tensile spring for connecting and fixing the frame to the green to prevent the green settled down on an upper surface of the plate cell from moving.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lift means is either a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

3. The system of -claim 1, wherein the lift means- comprises: a screw rotated by motor driving; and the ball joint nut-joined with the screw, for being moved.

4. The system in either of the preceding claims, further comprising a card checking device connected with the computer, for reading member's information.

5. A control method of an exercise system of golf putting, including: a computer having a program for setting geographical features data regarding a golf course' s green, a processor, and an output unit for outputting information regarding the green and the geographical features data; a geographical features control box for outputting a control signal for controlling each coordinate depending on the geographical features data outputted through the computer; and a putting green of a predetermined area, whose height on each coordinate is controlled by a lift means according to a control signal from the geographical features control box, the method comprising the steps of: receiving green data regarding geographical features

15 of a golf course's green; computing and storing a height on each coordinate divided into .a predetermined interval in advance according to the computer program using the inputted data; if information of a member who has registered in advance is inputted by a card checking device connected with the computer, authenticating a membership of the member; if the authentication of the membership is completed, outputting an image of the stored green through the computer; if the member selects the outputted green, outputting green control data regarding the relevant green to the geographical features control box; operating the lift means of each coordinate of the putting green using the geographical features control box according to the green control data; and if the member inputs a use termination signal through the computer, adjusting a predetermined amount for use hours.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the green data inputted to the computer is either image data of the green or geographical features data in which a' height of each coordinate of the putting green is set in advance.

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